CORR Insights^®: Intramedullary Nailing of Femoral Diaphyseal Metastases: Is it Necessary to Protect the Femoral Neck?

Excerpt

More than 1.5 million patients are diagnosed with cancer annually in the US, and more than half a million die each year from metastases [2]. Bone metastases to the femur are common; in fact, the femur is the most common site of osseous metastatic disease resulting in orthopaedic intervention. As such, most general orthopaedic surgeons are likely to encounter this problem. The goal in stabilizing these lesions is to allow the patient to regain mobility and maintain a high quality of life. Experience has shown fixation with intramedullary devices is superior to using plates and screws [3], although this may not apply for periprosthetic femoral bone metastases, where plate fixation may be the treatment of choice. …